The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 369

Diamond's Account of the Great Hanging 369
Hughes, Jas. Jones" and Thos. Wright," whose appointments
were unanimously confirmed by the meeting.
Resolved-That the committee thus constituted shall constitute a
tribunal to be styled the "Citizens Court," which shall examine into
all crimes and offenses committed in said co., and try saparatily [sic]
all cases brought before it, hear the evidence, determine the guilt or
innocence of the party accused and pronounce what punishment shall
be inflicted.
Resolved-That the party accused shall in all cases be allowed to
employ attorney and to send for and introduce such witnesses in his
defense as he may desire, and may be confronted with any witness
for or against him, and each witness shall be sworn by a Justice of
the Peace, or other officer authorized by law to administer oaths.
Resolved-That the proceedings of said Court shall be private or
kept secret so far as possible, from the enemy, and may at its discre-
tion suppress any and all such testimony as may be deemed prudent
and proper for the public safety.
Resolved-That the court shall be empowered to appoint a clerk
& constable to assist in the transactions of its business, and may reg-
ulate the time of its own meetings and adjournments.
Resolved-Unanimously that we the citizens comprising this meet-
ing pledge ourselves individually to sustain the proceedings of said
Court and assist in carrying out its decisions in all things.
On motion the meeting adjourned. Wm. C. Young, Chm. James M.
Peery, Secry.
CHARACTER OF COURT
The proceedings of this meeting furnish an unanswerable refu-
in 1862 and served on the "Citizens Court" under duress. As a result of threats arising
from his lukewarm attitude, he felt it necessary to leave Gainesville shortly after-
wards, moving to Vernon in 1863 and to Bell County in 1865. During the opening
phases of Reconstruction in Texas he removed to Tennessee, where he remained
until the end of 1866. Barrett then returned to Gainesville where he, with other
members of the "Citizens Court," were subsequently tried and acquitted in civil
court of any crime in connection with their participation in the work of the "Cit-
izens Court." He continued the practice of medicine until 1878 and continued to
preach until his death in Gainesville in 1892. Barrett, The Great Hanging at Gaines-
ville; Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas, 50-51.
"James Jones, born in North Carolina in 1812, took up land for farming in
Cooke County after 1850. U. S. Eighth Census, 186o (Returns of Schedule 1, Free
Inhabitants, for Cooke County, Texas, microfilm, Dallas Public Library).
'7Thomas Wright was born in North Carolina in 1812 and became a farmer in
Cooke County sometime after 1850. He entered active military service of the Con-
federacy toward the end of the war, being named a second lieutenant in Captain
James Hill's company of frontier guards on January 3o, 1864. Ibid.; Smith, First
zoo Years in Cooke County, 44.